The warm and fiery glow of the traditional Garnet makes it a perfect birthstone for the wintry month of January. But if red is not your color, don’t worry: Garnet comes in a wide variety of colors. You will find this stone in antique, vintage, and contemporary jewelry pieces, in a wide variety of forms and fashions.

Originally, rhinestone referred to rock crystal, the clear variety of quartz, obtained from the Rhine River. According to some sources, in the late 18th century, an Alsatian jeweler, George Frederic Strass, developed a method of coating the pavilions of the stones with a metallic powder, which made them more reflective and brilliant, and a better imitation of diamond. Other accounts credit Strass (or Stras) with the introduction of a lead glass for use in jewelry.

While a number of jewelry materials can be described as, “Black as jet”, the word ‘jet’ should only be used to describe an item of jewelry which is made from the organic material identified as 'jet' to avoid any possible confusion on the part of the buying public.

Does this sound like you? "I have a drawer full of very nice pearl necklaces. My problem is I'm terrified to list them lest I should violate any fraud laws. I have bought two books, read numerous articles, taken several to my jeweler who gave an opinion about a few of them and executed numerous "tooth" tests trying to be really sure about whether or not they are real." – ‘Does anyone else have this problem?

One of the most exciting developments in recent years in the world of costume jewelry collecting has been the identification of Juliana jewelry manufactured by DeLizza & Elster (D&E). The detective work and scholarship undertaken by members of the vintage jewelry-collecting world has resulted in a growing body of material on this fabulous jewelry. And it has sparked frenzy among collectors and vintage jewelry sellers alike!

We know you have seen it – the photo of a brooch taken from five feet away in a dark cave. According to the title, this might be just the piece you want, but the dark, unfocused image provides no clues as to the design of the piece, the material from which it was made, or its condition.

The month of  December, with all its Holiday shopping, is known for offering a wide range of choices in everything imaginable. The same holds true with the birthstone for the month. Those born in December are offered 5 different choices! Lapis and Zircon are the two most traditional choices, with turquoise being a bit later addition.  The most recent additions to the list are Tanzanite and Blue Topaz. We won’t confuse the issue anymore with the additional stones which are related to the natal sun signs or star signs of those born in December.

Beware! When shopping on the Internet, all that glitters is not gold! Has this happened to you? You're surfing online and find a fabulous ring for sale – a 14K gemstone ring. Pleased with the style, and thrilled by a bargain price, you read on, only to discover in the "fine print" that the ring is actually gold electroplate with simulated stones. Did the seller mean to deceive?

If you buy and sell vintage and antique jewelry long enough, you will acquire some pieces that though unmarked, seem to be made of fine metal. Maybe it is their heft, their color or their style, but something tells you these are “better” pieces.

Think of cameos and you are likely to picture a brooch with the profile of a woman carved in shell. Did you know that this style of cameo is only one of a broad array of carved miniatures considered cameos? Indeed, the very popular profile cameo is largely a 20th century creation. To understand more about cameos – miniature wearable works of art – let’s take a brief look at the different types of cameos and their history.